Gretta KelziOperations Manager/Ethics Insights Team| Esri Lebanon/PMIJdeidet Al Maten, Al Maten, Lebanon
From time to time, I re-visit PMI’s Self-Assessment tool of the Ethics Tool kit, to see if I have changes in my answers over time.
This tool is very powerful in terms of identifying opportunities for further reflection, as it includes, not only answering to some questions, but also putting a plan of action as part of a personal development plan to improve some areas that were self-identified as weak in terms of ethical behavior.
I need your help in suggesting some activities/actions for the below:
“I strive to be a role model for ethical behavior”
What suggestions do you have to be a role model for ethical behavior? Please help.
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
You can be a role model passively or actively.
Passive role modelling is the one we understand by default. There are no activity or action involved. You simply reflect the desired behaviour in your actions and your speech.
Active role modeling requires stepping up and taking time with people to edify them in the desired behaviour. This is where you can define activities and action. It can be as simple as taking 5 minutes at the end of the meeting to share something with the group. (I remember a CIO who stood up and explained how people should tuck their chair back under the conference table!)
The nice thing about building such activities inside other existing activities is that you have a captive audience. If you tried to schedule a separate meeting you likely would not get a lot of uptake. Just don't overdo it: keep it short and sweet. One explained/demonstrated behaviour will have more of an impact that many of them.
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1 reply by Gretta Kelzi
Apr 15, 2022 4:04 AM
Gretta Kelzi
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thank you Stéphane, eye-opening suggestions. I think the passive method is much more difficult then the active one. The passive requires a very good self knowledge and high level of maturity to be transparent with yourself.
Building on Stéphane's suggestions, I'd suggest you could do regular lunch-n-learns where you pick scenarios which present an ethical dilemma and have a discussion on what the appropriate response would be.
Kiron
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1 reply by Gretta Kelzi
Apr 15, 2022 4:05 AM
Gretta Kelzi
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Kiron, thank you for your consistent contribution, do you have any ethical dilemmas to share?
Gretta, building on Kiron and Stephane's suggestions, i think the first step is to assess a possible gap in the group and what is ideal. This can be done through a set of questions relatable to the cohort considered. The gap analysis then sets a baseline for the next steps and actions that can be planned.
For a organization, getting a leadership buy in could help to plan these activities with a desired intent.
Thanks for this topic. Its important and I too am looking forward to the answers. Saving Changes...
The active role modeling is an excellent idea. Simply behaving ethically is essentially invisible because unless you point out ethical issues with others, you're modeling what you don't do.
I think the brief ethics topics go better at the start of a meeting while you are building a quorum. You're less likely to lose people than at the end, and it's a good way to get the audience engaged. Some people start a meeting with something humorous, trivia, human interest, or something else to improve engagement. Why not integrate quick ethics topics?
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1 reply by Gretta Kelzi
Apr 15, 2022 6:24 AM
Gretta Kelzi
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Thank you Keith for clarifying what it means to be an active role model.
Adding your idea of having 5 minutes talk about ethics..
Saving Changes...
Gretta KelziOperations Manager/Ethics Insights Team| Esri Lebanon/PMIJdeidet Al Maten, Al Maten, Lebanon
Apr 14, 2022 12:40 PM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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You can be a role model passively or actively.
Passive role modelling is the one we understand by default. There are no activity or action involved. You simply reflect the desired behaviour in your actions and your speech.
Active role modeling requires stepping up and taking time with people to edify them in the desired behaviour. This is where you can define activities and action. It can be as simple as taking 5 minutes at the end of the meeting to share something with the group. (I remember a CIO who stood up and explained how people should tuck their chair back under the conference table!)
The nice thing about building such activities inside other existing activities is that you have a captive audience. If you tried to schedule a separate meeting you likely would not get a lot of uptake. Just don't overdo it: keep it short and sweet. One explained/demonstrated behaviour will have more of an impact that many of them.
thank you Stéphane, eye-opening suggestions. I think the passive method is much more difficult then the active one. The passive requires a very good self knowledge and high level of maturity to be transparent with yourself. Saving Changes...
Gretta KelziOperations Manager/Ethics Insights Team| Esri Lebanon/PMIJdeidet Al Maten, Al Maten, Lebanon
Apr 14, 2022 3:26 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Gretta -
Building on Stéphane's suggestions, I'd suggest you could do regular lunch-n-learns where you pick scenarios which present an ethical dilemma and have a discussion on what the appropriate response would be.
Kiron
Kiron, thank you for your consistent contribution, do you have any ethical dilemmas to share?
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Apr 15, 2022 9:48 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Sure Gretta -
A very simple one might be: your company has policies which prevent you from accepting monetary or significantly material gifts from vendors, especially prior to a contract being signed. You are a team member on a project where some services need to be procured and have been tasked by your PM to identify, contact and evaluate suppliers. After contacting one of the suppliers, their sales person mentions they will be in the vicinity of your office tomorrow and offers to take you out for lunch.
What should you do?
Kiron
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Gretta,
when you 'strive' to be a role model, this is a conscious target and you can plan for and take specific steps. It is active. It is being self-aware and controlling your representation.
The extreme is playing the role like an actor and this might even be a good exercise. Leaders do this.
The role is expressed in behaviors, but also in habits, rites, gestures, use of words, attitudes, posture: anything that can be used as a communication medium.
Steve Jobs wore black shirts as an uniform, made them look cool, and set a model. Humility, anti-violence and trustworthiness are also that can be focused on by a role model, as Ghandi or Mandela did.
Further, I would think that not only ethics make a role model but also a role model can create ethics, as the behaviors and beliefs seen as positive by a group or people. Russians see Putin as overwhelmingly ethical. Hitler was adored by Germans, as was Trump by most Americans. Any skilled leader can instill fear about outsiders in their followers, de-humanize them and make them hate them. This certainly is not universally ethical, but it is perceived by the followers as such.
Thomas Saving Changes...
Gretta KelziOperations Manager/Ethics Insights Team| Esri Lebanon/PMIJdeidet Al Maten, Al Maten, Lebanon
Apr 14, 2022 5:39 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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The active role modeling is an excellent idea. Simply behaving ethically is essentially invisible because unless you point out ethical issues with others, you're modeling what you don't do.
I think the brief ethics topics go better at the start of a meeting while you are building a quorum. You're less likely to lose people than at the end, and it's a good way to get the audience engaged. Some people start a meeting with something humorous, trivia, human interest, or something else to improve engagement. Why not integrate quick ethics topics?
Thank you Keith for clarifying what it means to be an active role model.
Adding your idea of having 5 minutes talk about ethics.. Saving Changes...
Kiron, thank you for your consistent contribution, do you have any ethical dilemmas to share?
Sure Gretta -
A very simple one might be: your company has policies which prevent you from accepting monetary or significantly material gifts from vendors, especially prior to a contract being signed. You are a team member on a project where some services need to be procured and have been tasked by your PM to identify, contact and evaluate suppliers. After contacting one of the suppliers, their sales person mentions they will be in the vicinity of your office tomorrow and offers to take you out for lunch.
What should you do?
Kiron Saving Changes...
Mohamed HassanProject Management Consultant, Author and Speaker| LIFELONGKuwait, Kuwait
Walk the Talk, this is the best thing to do, in all the decisions but the ethical criteria are very clear from the beginning, people are looking at you more than listen to what you say especially during the hard time. Saving Changes...
